Dead-On Celebrations

By
Erin

Sure, Halloween is the chance to dress up (or undress) and prance about alongside witches and superheroes. But if it's the ghostly theme that excites you, Mexico's Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is your kind of celebration. The annual event celebrates the spirits of the deceased with ceremonies, tributes and even festivals. You can get in on the action thanks to a few local events.

The Cultural Institute of Mexico opens its Altar of the Dead Friday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m. in a grand celebration honoring Frida Kahlo. The tribute to Kahlo runs in conjunction with the Smithsonian's celebration of the 100th anniversary of Kahlo's birth and tickets cost $10.

The holiday is also rich with food traditions, so local restaurants are cooking up special menus in honor of the event. Oyamel celebrates Day of the Dead with six nights of specialties. Oyamel hosts chef Titita RamÃ­rez from Mexico City. During the celebration, the restaurant will prepare some of Ramirez's specialties, including duck tostadas, quail in mole sauce chipotle shrimp and plantain empanadas with crab. From 5 until 7 p.m. next Monday through Friday, get your "hora feliz" (or happy hour) on with beer and cocktail specials and $1 antojitos (small bites). To liquor up your Halloween, the Wednesday happy hour will also include a free tequila tasting. If you are a fan or Ramirez's food, you want to dazzle your friends with your ethnic cooking prowess or you're a fan of free things, Ramirez will lead a free cooking class at the Mexican Cultural Institute on Halloween at 10 a.m. Call 202-628-1005 to register.

Up the street, Rosa Mexicano presents an Oaxacan-style tasting menu in honor of Day of the Dead from Nov. 1-4. The $45 menu includes bread with Mexican hot chocolate, sweet squash tamales with spicy black bean puree, chicken mole and pumpkin creme brulee. The dishes can also be ordered a la carte. On Saturday, Nov. 3, the restaurant will host a cooking demonstration and luncheon for $45. The demonstration begins at 10 a.m. with the three-course luncheon of Oaxacan enchiladas and pork chops following at 11:30 a.m. Call 202-654-7010 to reserve a spot.

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Although we all celaberate halloween i am an staunch believer that its really for the kids too have sort of like an precurser of christimas only with lots of free candy and spooky folklore so lets remember this hallow eve so we can watch out for the little gobblins and gouls thanks.